Metal window-box for flowers.



No. 812,806. Y PATEN'TED FEB. 20, 1906. E. E. BIXLER. METAL WINDOW BOX POR FLOWERS.

APPLIOATION FILED AUG. l0, 1905.

UNTTE STATES PATENT FFTCE.

METAL WINDOW-BOX FOR FLOWERS.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Feb. 20, 1906.

Application filed August 10,1905. Serial No. 273,568.

To a/ZZ whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, EMMA EILENBERGER BIXLER, a citizen ofthe United States, residing at Easton, in the county of Northampton ,and State of Pennsylvania, have invented a new and useful Metal Window-Box for Flowers, of which the following is a specification.

The invention relates to improvements in metal window-boxes for flowers.

The object of the present invention is to improve the construction of metal windowboxes for flowers and to provide a simple and comparatively inexpensive flower box of great strength and durability designed to receive growing plants of various kinds and adapted to be arranged either interiorly or exteriorly of a window having either a wide or narrow sill.

A further object of the invention is to provide a decorative window-box of this character which will be highly ornamental in ap pearance and in which the proper drainage will be provided, whereby the plants will be maintained in healthy condition.

The invention also has for its object to prevent any leakage of the drainage and to provide simple and efficient means for removably supporting a drip-pan for catching all superfiuous water.

With these and other objects in view the invention consists in the construction and novel combination and arrangement of parts hereinafter fully described, illustrated in the accompanying drawings, and pointed out in the claims hereto appended, it being understood that various changes in the form, proportion, size, and minor details of construction within the scope of the claims may be resorted to without departing from the spirit or sacrificing any ofthe advantages of the invention.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a perspective view of a window-box constructed in accordance with this invention. Fig. 2 is a reverse plan view of the same. Fig. 3 is a longitudinal sectional view taken substantially on the line 3 3 of Fig. 2. Fig. 4 is a transverse sectional view taken substantially on the line 4 4 of Fig. 2.

Like numerals of reference designate corresponding parts in all the figures of the drawings.

designates an oblong window-box designed to receive growing plants and constructed of suitable sheet metal-such as galvanized iron, copper, or aluminiumand composed of iront and rear walls 2 and 3, end walls 4, and a horizontal bottom 5. The window-box, which is adapted to be arranged either interiorly or exteriorly of a window having either a wide or narrow sill, is provided at its bottom with depending legs'or supports 6, constructed of sheet metal or other suitable material and preferably tapered and fluted, as shown, to present an ornamental appearance. are located at the outer portion of the bottom adjacent to the front wall and a short distance from the end walls to avoid Vinterfering with a drain pipe or tube 7, which is also located at the outer portion of the bottom, as clearly illustrated in Figs. 2 and 4 of the drawings. The legs extend below the plane of the bottom of the drain pipe or tube and prevent the latter from coming in contact pith the window-sill or other supporting-surace.

'The drain pipe or tube, which is closed at the end 8, is tapered and has an inclined bot.

tom, the enlarged end emptying into a removable drip-pan 9. The smaller end 8l is preferably closed by the adjacent leg; but it may be closed in any other desired manner, as will be readily understood, and the bottom of the window-box is provided at intervals with drain-apertures 10 for permitting superfluous water to escape to the drain pipe or tube.

The drip-pan, which is rectangular, is provided in one of its side walls with a segmental or substantially semicircular recess 11 of a size to receive the enlarged end of the drain pipe or tube, and the edges of the recess or opening 11 conform to the configuration of the same. The enlarged end of the drain pipe or tube extends into the drip-pan and projects from the adjacent side wall, as clearly shown in Fig. 3 of the drawings, the drip-pan being placed in such position by moving it laterally after the side opening or recess is brought opposite the drain pipe or tube. The drip-pan is provided at Opposite sides with horizontal supporting-flanges 12 and 13 of different widths, the inner fiange being narrower than the outer flange 13. These fianges 12 and 13 are received in guides or ways 14 and 15, consisting of metal strips or pieces secured to the lower face of the bottom and having offset portions spaced from the bottom to form grooves or ways for the flanges 12 and 13 ofthe drip-pan. The metal strip forming the guide or way 15 is wider than the other metal strip to provide suffi- The legs or supports TOO IIO

cient space for permitting the drip-pan to be moved laterally to engage it with the adj acent end of the drain pipe or tube. The drippan is of a width less than the width of the space between the guides or ways to enable it to be moved laterally to and from the drain pipe or tube, and the distance between the Outer edge of the narrow supporting-flange and the opposite side of the drip-pan is greater than the width of the space between the guides or ways, so that it is impossible for the drip-pan to become disengaged from the guides or ways by the said lateral movement. The drip-pan is preferably tapered toward its inner end to conform to the configuration of the outer inclined portion of a window-sill and to secure an increased capacity. It is provided at its front with a ring 16, forming a handle for enabling it to be readily removed and securely held; but any other form of handle may be provided, as will be readily understood.

The window-box is retained in a window byk means of a pair of connecting bars or straps 17, arranged at an inclination and riveted or otherwise secured to the ends of the box adjacent to the upper edges thereof and close to the inner or rear wall. The upper ends of the straps or bars 17 are secured to the woodwork of the window-frame, preferably by means of screw-eyes 18, which are set at an inclination and which are adapted to receive flagstaffs, as illustrated in dotted i lines in Fig. 1 of the drawings, for enabling a window to be easily decorated when desired.

The front wall of the window-box is decorated, preferably, by removable ornamental tiling 19, consisting of rectangular blocks arranged in a horizontal groove or way formed by spaced upper and lower exteriorlyarranged substantially L shaped iianges 20,

- projecting from the top and bottom of the box. The flanges receive the upper and lower edges of the pieces of tiling and engage the front faces thereof. The longitudinal groove or way extends the entire length of the window-box, and the tiling may be readily removed at the ends of the box when desired, and the ornamentation can thereby be changed. The front of the window-box may also be ornamented in any other desired manner.

By constructing the window-box of metal it will not absorb moisture and draw insects like a wooden box, and as there is a perfect drainage plants may be maintained in a healthy condition.

When the window-box is placed in a winldow having a wide sill, as illustrated in Fig. 4 of the drawings, the legs or supports rest upon the outer portion of the window-sill and maintain the window-box perfectly steady and solid. When the box 1s placed on a narrow sill, the inner portion of the body rests upon the sill, and it is firmly held in such position by the straps or bars 17. The window-box may be arranged exteriorly of the window in summer and can be easily transferred to the interior in cold weather, -and as the removable drip-pan is securely supported in position there is no liability of the water leaking from the device and soiling or otherwisev injuring carpets, wall-paper, or the like.

Having thus fully described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. A device of the class described, comprising a metallic box designed to be placed on a window-sill and provided at its outer portion with supporting-legs, and a drain pipe or tube located at the outer portion of the box and having its bottom located in a plane above the lower ends of the legs, whereby it is maintained out of contact with the window-sill.

2. A device of the class described, comprising a plant-box provided at its outer portion with supporting-legs, said box being also provided at intervals with drain-apertures, and a drain pipe or tube secured to the bottom of the box beneath the drain-apertures.

3. A device of the class described, comprising a window-box provided at its outer portion with legs and having a drain pipe or tube, and a drip-pan receiving the drain pipe or tube and detachably supported by the said box, the bottom of the drip-pan being aranged in a plane above the lower ends of the g4. A device of the class described, comprising a plant-box provided at its outer portion with legs and having drain-apertures, a tapering drain pipe or tube secured to the bottom of the box and having an inclined bottom, and a drip-pan removably suspended from the bottom of the box and receiving one end of the drain pipe or tube.

5. A device of the class described, comprising a plant-box provided with a drain pipe or tube and having a drain-aperture communicating with the same, a drip-pan provided at one side with an opening arranged to receive one end of the drain pipe or tube, said drip-pan being also provided with opposite supporting-flanges, guides or ways receiving the supporting-flanges, the drippan being of a width less than the space between the guides or ways, whereby it is capable of lateral movement to engage and disengage the drain pipe or tube.

6. A device of the class described, comprising a plant-box provided with a drain pipe or tube and having a drain-aperture communicating with the same, a drip-pan provided at one side with an opening arranged to receive one end of the drain pipe or tube, said drip-pan being also provided with opposite supporting-flanges, guides or ways receiving the sup orting-flanges, the drip-pan being of awidth ess than the space between IOO IlO

the guides or ways, whereby it is capable of In testimony that I claim the foregoing as lateral movement to engage and disengage the my own I have hereto affixed my signature Io dlain pioe n jltube, the distarce between eoh in the presence of two witnesses.

si e wa o t e ri -pan an the outer e e of the iange ofthe oppposite wall being greatger EMMA EHENBERGER BIXLER than the width of the space between the guides Witnesses z or ways to prevent the drip-pan from beoom- EDITH BIXLER, ing disengaged by the said lateral movement. JAMES S. DowNs. 

